Xitone MBritt - worth it for $400?

[LScottK]

I have an opportunity to purchase a mint condition, fully functional Xitone MBritt FRFR. It is the newer model with the Dayton amp, not the Matrix amp. I have an EV PXM-12MP that I currently use for gigs and practice. I wanted a Xitone for a long time, but settled on the EV because at the time of purchase, Xitone had stopped responding to customers. As far as I can tell, Xitone is no more. So the value and sale price has decreased dramatically. I tried out a Fender FR-12, but didn't bond with it, even after installing the V1 version of the ArcAngel preamp. I didn't stick with the FR-12 largely because the band I was in at the time really loud and the FR-12 struggled to keep up.

I read many moons ago (2019) that the MBritt Xitone, with the open back option, did a good job of sounding like a real guitar cab, similar to what many think of the Fender FR products. I like the sound of the PXM-12MP, so this is kind of a GAS purchase, though I would like something that more closely mimics a real cab (if such a thing is even possible). Buying the MBritt Xitone is about 4 hours or driving round trip, so it isn't convenient to just try it out. I figured that I would ask other forum members for their thoughts. Does anyone on the forum compared a Xitone MBritt to an FR-12? Or possibly just tried the MBritt and has thoughts on its ability to sound more like a guitar cab than a PXM-12MP?

P.S. I'm posting in the "Digital Modeling" forum because the focus in "amps and cabs" is for more traditional setups, and I am assuming that there is a bigger likelihood that folks in "Digital Modeling" have more experience with FRFR setups. However, mods feel free to move this thread if it's inappropriate to post here.

 

[iaresee]

I have an MBritt Xitone, albeit with problems (I no longer have the profiles on the Dayton amp so there's no tuning or cross over settings).

It is a loud beast that's built like a tank. When it worked, I loved it. After losing the power amp and getting a replacement (for free, mind you) via Mick drop shipped to me from Dayton it was unusable and has sat, collecting dust. I'm on the fence on reviving it. I'd have to buy an entirely new Dayton power amp, one that has a USB connection for programming it, in order to resurrect it to be useful again.

That I haven't done that in over 18 months now is maybe telling?

I haven't thrown it away. But yea...I'm getting by with my lighter EV EVM12L so I'm not scrambling here either.

I am convinced an "FRFR" in a wooden enclosure is superior to plastic enclosed stuff. I far prefer the EVM12L to the ZLX stuff or the newer, plastic EVMs.

 

[LScottK]

I have an MBritt Xitone, albeit with problems (I no longer have the profiles on the Dayton amp so there's no tuning or cross over settings).

It is a loud beast that's built like a tank. When it worked, I loved it. After losing the power amp and getting a replacement (for free, mind you) via Mick drop shipped to me from Dayton it was unusable and has sat, collecting dust. I'm on the fence on reviving it. I'd have to buy an entirely new Dayton power amp, one that has a USB connection for programming it, in order to resurrect it to be useful again.

That I haven't done that in over 18 months now is maybe telling?

I haven't thrown it away. But yea...I'm getting by with my lighter EV EVM12L so I'm not scrambling here either.

I am convinced an ""FRFR"" in a wooden enclosure is superior to plastic enclosed stuff. I far prefer the EVM12L to the ZLX stuff or the newer, plastic EVMs.

I just saw your reply, after posting in your xitone thread . . .

 

[iaresee]

I just saw your reply, after posting in your xitone thread . . .

The Xitone sounds MASSIVE. It is VERY LOUD. Whether it's better than an FR-12, I can't say. I've never tried an FR-12. But I had no issues drowning anyone out with my MBritt when it was fully functional. Taming the low end was always a challenge.

 

[LScottK]

I have an MBritt Xitone, albeit with problems (I no longer have the profiles on the Dayton amp so there's no tuning or cross over settings).

It is a loud beast that's built like a tank. When it worked, I loved it. After losing the power amp and getting a replacement (for free, mind you) via Mick drop shipped to me from Dayton it was unusable and has sat, collecting dust. I'm on the fence on reviving it. I'd have to buy an entirely new Dayton power amp, one that has a USB connection for programming it, in order to resurrect it to be useful again.

That I haven't done that in over 18 months now is maybe telling?

I haven't thrown it away. But yea...I'm getting by with my lighter EV EVM12L so I'm not scrambling here either.

I am convinced an ""FRFR"" in a wooden enclosure is superior to plastic enclosed stuff. I far prefer the EVM12L to the ZLX stuff or the newer, plastic EVMs.

Do you have any thoughts on how the MBritt compares to the FR-12? Specifically comparing the FR-12s capability of sounding more like a regular cab?

I see in your other thread that you need a copy of the profiles. If I purchase the amp I'll be happy to copy the profiles and send them to you. I'm not sure of the vintage of the MBritt that I'm eyeing. Is there any easy way to tell whether it is the USB version?

 

[Eagle]

I still use two Xitone passive wedges with Celestion F12 X200s in . Power from either a VHT 2/50/2 or Matrix GT1000fx. I want to keep the power separate and the crossover. It was a good call considering how shitty the reliability and service is on many frfr systems.

 

[LScottK]

The Xitone sounds MASSIVE. It is VERY LOUD. Whether it's better than an FR-12, I can't say. I've never tried an FR-12. But I had no issues drowning anyone out with my MBritt when it was fully functional. Taming the low end was always a challenge.

The EV is plenty loud enough. I'm more interested in whether the MBritt gets closer to a traditional guitar cab than the EV PXM-12MP. $400 is a great price, but GC is selling one in excellent condition for $409, so $400 isn't a killer price like it would have been a couple of years ago.

Maybe someone else has some thoughts on a comparison of the FR-12 compared to the MBritt?

 

[LScottK]

I still use two Xitone passive wedges with Celestion F12 X200s in . Power from either a VHT 2/50/2 or Matrix GT1000fx. I want to keep the power separate and the crossover. It was a good call considering how shitty the reliability and service is on many "FRFR" systems.

Yeah, I'm more inclined to take a chance on the MBritt because replacement parts are available without going through Xitone. Though I feel @iarsee's pain in not be able to program the DSP if the amp needs replacement.

I sold a CLR due to not getting service from Atomic, so I'm all too familiar with poor service. It's one reason that I went with EV. I got an RE20 refurbished through EV (foam replacement) and they updated the mic circuit at no extra charge. They also responded to my email and phone calls. After what I went through with Atomic, buying an PXM-12MP from EV was an easy choice.

I'm going to see if I can figure out whether the MBritt I'm looking at has a USB or proprietary connection. If it's USB then it sounds like I could download the existing configuration to save if the amp fails (and send the saved configuration to iarsee if he still wants it).

 

[iaresee]

. Though I feel @iarsee's pain in not be able to program the DSP if the amp needs replacement.

This is entirely due to me getting an older amp from Dayton that used a special header for connecting to the computer for programming. All the new Dayton amps use USB.

AFAIK you can't pull existing programming off a Dayton amp. But if you can, I'd be interested in those profiles!

 

[LScottK]

This is entirely due to me getting an older amp from Dayton that used a special header for connecting to the computer for programming. All the new Dayton amps use USB.

AFAIK you can't pull existing programming off a Dayton amp. But if you can, I'd be interested in those profiles!

I'll see if I can figure out whether downloading and saving profiles is an option. I'll have to figure out if the required software is available for download.

 

[LScottK]

I found the software on the Dayton website. One of the menus (File) has a "Save" option, so my guess is that if I can connect to the amplifier I can save the current configuration. I'm still on the fence about buying the amp. I should be able to get $400 out of it if I don't like it. I've wanted to try one for a number of years, so GAS will likely win.

 

[LScottK]

The software looks well designed. It has an easy to use interface, with tabs (actually buttons, but serves the same purpose as tabs) that display a variety of settings - Volume Phase, Filters, PEQ, Limiter, Delay, LED Status. There is a status light that indicates whether the software is connected to the amp via USB. I'll post another message once (if?) I get the MBritt. Who am I kidding? WHEN I get the MBritt.

 

[nikitasius]

12" Celestion ftx1225 w/ D-type amp for 400 bucks?..
That's very questionable for sound quality and overpaid.

 

[Eagle]

Try an F12 x200 in a decent 1x12 and use a power amp like a Duncan power stage. Reliable, serviceable and probably better if you use the right ported cab design.

 

[nikitasius]

Try an F12 x200 in a decent 1x12 and use a power amp like a Duncan power stage. Reliable, serviceable and probably better if you use the right ported cab design.

F12 x200 have built-in crossover. It will heat and it won't be as good as cold one. You can have external crossover and add good cooling for.

 

[Eagle]

F12 x200 have built-in crossover. It will heat and it won't be as good as cold one. You can have external crossover and add good cooling for.

I know but I’m talking about long term reliability and serviceability. Frfr companies have a collective bad name for guitar products particularly reliability, shitty class D power amp failure and no service.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Selling a used FRFR is not an easy task.

 

[Eagle]

Selling a used "FRFR" is not an easy task.

That’s because they are all broken and the companies won’t help.

 

[nikitasius]

btw, i have in plans a 2x poweramps setup on DSP crossover.

processor / preamps -> DSP crossover -> 1x PA on 2x LF/MF [like Celestion F12M-150] & 1 PA on 2x HF <30W [model haven't found yet]

 

[paisleywookiee]

It's too bad V-Boutique isn't doing Celestion FX200 spec cabinets anymore. They do good work (build the cabs for BAD), and you could just get a pair of those, with a stereo RedSound power amp.

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